Broadly reactive mosaic peptide for influenza vaccine

Abstract

The invention provides for mosaic influenza virus HA and NA sequences and uses thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 61 / 785,071, field on Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT RIGHTS[0002]This invention was made with government support under 2008-55620-19132 awarded by the USDA / NIFA. The government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND[0003]Influenza viruses are a significant health concern for animals and humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every year influenza virus infects up to 1 billion people, with 3-5 million cases of severe disease and 300,000-500,000 deaths annually (Meltzer et al., 1999). The traditional approach to controlling influenza A virus is based on diagnosis, treatment and prevention through vaccination. Each of these approaches, however, has flaws (e.g., antiviral resistance, incomplete protection, and improper vaccine distribution), e.g., treating every case ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]In one embodiment, a composition of the invention encodes or comprises an influenza virus HA and/or NA, which may induce a humoral response, a cellular response, or both, and so likely provides cross-protection. In one embodiment, the vaccine confers from 50 to 100% protection against heterologous challenge (cross protection). In one embodiment, the administration of a composition of the invention to avians or mammals provides

Problems solved by technology

Each of these approaches, however, has flaws (e.g., antiviral resistance, incomplete protection, and improper vaccine distribution), e.g., treating every case with antiviral drugs is not a viable option because it is often ineffective and leads to viral resistance.

However, these approaches have flaws (Iwami et al., 2008; Lipsitch et al., 2007; Lipsitch et al., 2009; Gandon et al., 2001).

Generation of inactivated vaccines (INV) has been optimized for seasonal flu, but presents several challenges for H5N1 viruses, including: 1) continual evolution of the viruses makes predicting a vaccine strain difficult; 2) egg propagation of vaccine stock is hindered due to the high lethality of H5N1 viruses to eggs and the poultry that provide them; and 3) the six to nine month time-period required to produce INV may be too long to protect large populations during a pandemic.

However, they are not recommended in infants, elderly, or immuno-compromise

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